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| − | <center>
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| − | == '''Phoenix Area Trunked Radio System Guide for Dummies''' ==
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| − | </center>
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| − | While this page is designed to help the new hobbyist or a traveler unfamiliar with the Phoenix area to get started listening to one of the fastest growing areas of the country, we do expect the user to have a basic understanding of [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Category:RR_Glossary radio terminology].
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| − |
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| − | And please note that this is an introductory level page concentrating on basic public safety monitoring for the valley's trunked systems. There are more detailed sites available for the more experienced listener. If you want more detail on the valley's systems and users, may we respectfully suggest you consult [http://radioreference.com Radio Reference], or purchase the [http://www.scannerstuff.com/swfd.htm Southwest Frequency Directory].
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| − |
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| − | __NOTOC__
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| − |
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| − | === '''An Overview''' ===
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| − |
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| − | The majority of radio users can be found on one of the four main systems in teh valley. Here is a list of the systems and their subscribers (users):
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| − |
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| − | '''Topaz Regional Wireless Cooperative (TRWC)'''
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| − | * Mesa
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| − | * Apache Junction
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| − | * Gilbert
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| − | * Queen Creek
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| − | * Apache Junction Fire District
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| − |
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| − | '''Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC)'''
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| − | * Buckeye
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| − | * El Mirage
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| − | * Goodyear
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| − | * Peoria
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| − | * Phoenix
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| − | * Surprise
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| − | * Tempe
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| − | * Chandler Fire
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| − | * Daisy Mountain Fire Department
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| − | * Guadalupe Fire Department
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| − | * Maricopa Fire Department
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| − | * Sun City Fire Department
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| − | * Sun City West Fire Department
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| − | * Sun Lakes Fire Department
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| − | * Scottsdale (pending)
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| − | * Paradise Valley (pending)
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| − | * Tolleson (pending)
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| − |
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| − | '''City of Glendale'''
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| − | * Avondale
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| − | * Glendale
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| − |
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| − | '''Maricopa County Radio System'''
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| − | * Maricopa County
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| − | * Scottsdale
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| − | * Paradise Valley
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| − |
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| − | === '''Which radio to use''' ===
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| − |
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| − | The current trend in public safety communications is to use digital technology. Also, since television's move to digital broadcasting, a new band of 700 MHz frequencies have become available for public safety systems.
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| − |
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| − | In the valley, there are analog systems, digital systems and combination systems. For instance, the Maricopa County system combines analog and digital communications on an 800 MHz system. Phoenix, Glendale and Mesa systems are fully digital and use both 700 and 800 MHz frequencies. Small systems like Chandler are only analog.
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| − |
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| − | Most 'trunking' scanners can track the 800 MHz analog trunking systems. To track digital systems a P25 compatible scanner is required; to track the new 700 MHz trunked systems, a 700 MHz capable radio is needed.
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| − |
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| − | We do not recommend any particular brand of scanner. We '''do''' recommend that you research your purchase carefully to ensure that you can hear the systems you want to hear.
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| − |
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| − | The following scanners are known to be able to monitor the valley's systems:
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| − | *[http://uniden.com/products/index.cfm?cat=scanners Uniden] [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/ BCD396T], [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD996T BCD996T], [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD396XT BCD396XT]and [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/BCD996XT BCD996XT]
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| − | *[http://www.radioshack.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2032072 Radio Shack] [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-106 PRO-106] and [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Pro-197 PRO-197]
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| − | *[http://www.greamerica.com/ GRE] [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/PSR-500 PSR-500] and [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/PSR-600 PSR-600]
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| − |
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| − | Note that the [http://wiki.radioreference.com/index.php/Category:Analog_Trunktrackers analog ony scanners] like the BCT15 BC346XT or PRO-96/2096 cannot receive digital or 700 mhz trunking, but still may work for analog systems.
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| − |
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| − | A final note: Scanners are not built to the same standards as professional radios and you may not be able to hear what you want to hear. For user comments on specific radios, visit the appropriate radio discussion forums at [http://forums.radioreference.com/ Radio Reference] or visit [http://groups.yahoo.com/ Yahoo Groups] for your scanner of interest.
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| − |
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| − | ==='''Systems and Sites'''===
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| − |
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| − | We will refer quite frequently to systems and sites. Simply speaking, a '''system''' consists of one or more '''sites'''.
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| − |
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| − | A site is a specific transmitter location with a set of frequencies assigned to it. Most wide area systems have many sites. When all sites in a system use the same frequencies, the system essential becomes one site - it is only necessary to program in one set of frequencies to monitor that entire system. When each site in a system has its own set of different frequencies, you must enter each site's frequencies separately to monitor that system.
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| − |
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| − | A '''simulcast system''' transmits the same traffic on some or all of the sites in the system. The valley's systems uses simulcast technology that some scanners have difficulty tracking. This is usually because of the relative positions of the scanner and the site you are monitoring. Sometimes moving your radio's location, adjusting or changing antennas, or adding attenuation to the frequency may help (see your radio's user guide). For more details on reception issues see the appropriate radio discussion forums at [http://forums.radioreference.com/ Radio Reference] or visit [http://groups.yahoo.com/ Yahoo Groups] for your area of interest.
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| − |
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| − | === '''What to program''' ===
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| − |
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| − | Most trunked scanners require at least the data frequency (the '''control channel''') to be programmed for each site. Some older scanners require all the voice frequencies to be entered as well. To listen to just valley public safety traffic(and not all users on a system) you also need the correct voice channels - known as '''talkgroups'''. A complete list of frequencies and talkgroups can be found at the links on the bottom of this page.
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| − |
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| − | ==='''Listening to the Valley'''===
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| − | For the purposes of monitoring the valley's public safety agencies, you need to know the system that provides the coverage for your area of interest. We have included a list of system names, locations and relative coverage areas to allow you to decide what systems you should program. Not all systems are linked to each other. (In fact, there are plans to 'unlink' the TRWC and the RWC.) So, a hobbyist should program all of the following systems to hear the majority of public safety traffic in the valley.
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| − |
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| − | ''RWC=Phoenix system TRWC=Mesa System MCo=County System''
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| | {| class="wikitable" border="1" | | {| class="wikitable" border="1" |
| | |+ | | |+ |
| − | === '''Greater Phoenix Area System Coverage''' === | + | === '''Tone Outs''' === |
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| − | ! OWNER | + | ! AGENCY |
| − | ! SYSTEM | + | ! STATION |
| − | ! COVERAGE | + | ! TONE A Hz |
| − | ! AGENCY/ENTITY | + | ! TONE B Hz |
| | ! NOTES | | ! NOTES |
| | + | ! FREQUENCY |
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| − | | RWC | + | | Prescott Fire |
| − | | Simulcast A | + | | All Station Alert |
| − | | Phoenix metro area | + | | 553.9 |
| − | | Phoenix Police | + | | 330.5 |
| − | || | + | | Daytime use 0700 - 2100 |
| | + | | 154.160 |
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| − | | RWC | + | | Prescott Fire |
| − | | Simulcast B | + | | ALL CALL |
| − | | Phoenix metro area | + | | 669.9 |
| − | | Phoenix and Valley Fire Departments | + | | Long Tone |
| − | || | + | | Alerts All Pagers |
| | + | | 154.160 |
| | |- | | |- |
| − | | RWC | + | | Prescott Fire |
| − | | Simulcast C
| + | | Station 71 |
| − | | Southeast Phoenix: Chandler, Ahwatukee, Sun Lakes
| + | | 553.9 |
| − | | Phoenix, Chandler (after expected migration)
| + | | 349.0 |
| − | ||
| + | | Nighttime use 2100 - 0700 |
| − | |-
| + | | 154.160 |
| − | | TRWC
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| − | | Simulcast D
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| − | | East Valley Cities
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| − | | Mesa, Gilbert, Apache Junction Law and Fire
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| − | || | |
| − | |- | |
| − | | RWC | |
| − | | Simulcast E
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| − | | West Valley Cities
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| − | | Peoria, Buckeye, El Mirage, Surprise
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| − | ||
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Simulcast G
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| − | | West Valley Cities
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| − | | Peoria, Buckeye, El Mirage, Surprise
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| − | | ''Simulcast E and G expected to be combined in 2010''
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| − | |-
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| − | |RWC
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| − | | Simulcast F
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| − | | Tempe
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| − | | Tempe
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| − | ||
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | |Simulcast X (NEW)
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| − | |Scottsdale
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| − | |Scottsdale, Paradise Valley (after migration)
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| − | |''New system expected to go online in 2010''
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| − | |-
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| − | |City of Glendale
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| − | |Glendale
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| − | |Glendale area
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| − | |Avondale, Glendale
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| − | ||
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Thompson Peak
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| − | |Primary East Simulcast
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| − | |MCSO All Districts, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley
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| − | |''Scottsdale and Paradise Valley expected to migrate to RWC in 2010''
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |White Tanks
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| − | |Primary West Simulcast
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| − | |MCSO All Districts
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| − | ||
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Central Court
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| − | |Primary Downtown Simulcast
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| − | |MCSO All Districts, Central Jails
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| − | ||
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| − | |-
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| − | |City of Chandler
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| − | |Chandler
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| − | |Chandler
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| − | |Chandler PD
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| − | |''Expected to migrate to RWC in 2010''
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| − | |-
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| − | |}
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| − | | |
| − | The following sites carry localized traffic, and are included for those listeners who may need to monitor a specific location outside the RWC-TRWC-County simulcast footprint:
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| − | | |
| − | {| class="wikitable" border="1"
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| − | |-
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| − | ! OWNER
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| − | ! SYSTEM
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| − | ! SITE
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| − | ! COVERAGE
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| − | ! USERS
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Quintero IR
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| − | | Site 502
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| − | | Peoria, Quintero community only
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Thompson Peak IR
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| − | | Site 302
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| − | | East Phoenix, and Mesa area
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | South Mtn IR
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| − | | Site 203
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| − | | Emergency backup
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Sky Harbor IR
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| − | | Site 103
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| − | | Aviation users at KPHX
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Daisy Mtn Conv
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| − | | Site 902-904
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| − | | Conventional at Daisy Mtn FD
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Outlet Mall IR
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| − | | Site 204
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| − | | North Phoenix
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Waddell Dam IR
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| − | | Site 104
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| − | | Northwest Phoenix
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Goodyear IR
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| − | | Site 105
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| − | | Far Southwest, Phoenix, Goodyear
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| − | | All subscribers
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Smith Peak High Site
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| − | | Site TBD
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| − | | West Maricopa County, Aguila
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| − | | All users
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Far North Mtn High Site
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| − | | Site TBD
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| − | | North Phoenix
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| − | | All users
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | North Mtn High Site
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| − | | Site TBD
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| − | | North Phoenix
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| − | | All users
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | Arizona City High Site
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| − | | Site TBD
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| − | | North Pinal County
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| − | | All users
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| − | |-
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| − | | RWC
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| − | | White Tanks High Site
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| − | | Site 208?
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| − | | West Maricopa County
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| − | | All users
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Oatman Mtn
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| − | |Site 003
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| − | |Southwest Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 2
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Yarnell Hill
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| − | |Site 004
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| − | |Northwest Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 3
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Mt. Gillen
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| − | |Site 005
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| − | |Northwest Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 4
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Bronco Butte
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| − | |Site 006
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| − | |Northeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 4
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| − | |- | |
| − | |MCo | |
| − | |Mt. Ord
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| − | |Site 007
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| − | |Northeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 5
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Humboldt Mtn
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| − | |Site 008
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| − | |Northeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 4
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Southeast Center
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| − | |Site 010
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| − | |Southeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 1
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Durango Jail
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| − | |Site 011
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| − | |Durango Jail users
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| − | |MCSO Durango Jail
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Chandler
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| − | |Site 012
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| − | |Southeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 1
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Smith Peak
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| − | |Site 013
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| − | |Northwest Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 3
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |Towers Mtn
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| − | |Site 014
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| − | |Northwest Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 3
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| − | |-
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| − | |MCo
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| − | |South Scottsdale
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| − | |Site 015
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| − | |Southeast Rural
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| − | |MCSO District 1
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| | |} | | |} |
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| − | '''Talkgroups'''
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| − | Each Agency on a system has its unique talkgroup (channel) assignments. Dispatch talkgroups are the busiest, with much routine traffic. Tactical talkgroups can be used for small incidents or to coordinate large events. Many agencies use a 'hot' channel to dispatch urgent calls. We recommend including 'hot' talkgroups in your scan list.
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| − | One of the buzzwords popular in the telecommunications field is '''interoperability''' - the ability for users from different agencies (and even on different systems) to communicate with each other at the scene of an incident, without relaying through a third party. Interoperability (mutual aid) channels can be very exiting, but there use is sporadic. A good practice is to program these talkgroups in their own folder or group and scan them regularly. You may be surprised at what you will hear!
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| − | '''''A word about encryption and scrambling''': You may also notice that some talkgroups are scrambled and you will not be able to understand the traffic on those channels. (These talkgroups are marked with the letter 'E' on the Radio Reference pages listed below.) Due to the nature of digital encryption, specific technical information is needed to convert the scrambled signal to clear speech - and that information is only released to those individuals or agencies that need it. No scanner on the market today can be converted to monitor digital encrypted communications.''
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| − |
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| − | === '''Radio Reference Frequency and Talkgroup Links''' ===
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| − | We offer the following links to the most current data available for the following Phoenix Metropolitan are systems:
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| − | *[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=2508 Regional Wireless Cooperative (RWC) and Topaz Regional Wireless Cooperative (TRWC)]
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| − |
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| − | *[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=798 City of Glendale]
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| − | *[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=848 Maricopa County Radio System]
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| − | *[http://www.radioreference.com/apps/db/?sid=796 City of Chandler]
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| − | __NOEDITSECTION__
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| − |
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| − | [[Category:Intermountain Region]]
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